The impact of cuts to public transport spending will be discussed by councillors from Bradford and neighbouring districts at a key meeting tomorrow.

The cost of free bus travel for pensioners and the disabled across England, staffing levels and budget options will all be up for discussion at a meeting of West Yorkshire’s transport authority, Metro.

And a proposal to sell some of Metro’s rolling stock of train carriages will also be before the authority’s executive board. Metro is preparing for a difficult budget in the wake of the Government’s comprehensive spending review. Although final details have not been revealed, a reduction is expected and a way to bring in revenue could be selling rolling stock.

An agenda for the meeting said the press and public would be excluded from any discussions on the issue, although it is believed the sale of any rolling stock would not have an impact on areas where the carriages are currently operated.

Discussions and decisions on financial strategy and budget options will also be carried out without the public and media present.

But a previous Metro report on budget options outlined a series of potential savings, including the possible closure of Cleckheaton bus station, proposed withdrawal of Bradford’s FreeCityBus and potential axing of some local bus services in areas like Haworth.

The meeting will also hear how the Leeds Rail Growth programme, which includes plans for stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge, is one of 22 schemes placed in a “development group”, meaning the Government likes the scheme in principle, but savings must be made.

The Department for Transport will make a final decision on whether the scheme should receive funding at the end of 2011.

One item set to impact heavily on the budget will be the concessionary scheme, which allows all pensioners and disabled people free off-peak bus travel across England.

Metro has until April next year to come up with a system for reimbursing bus operators for the concessionary scheme in line with Department for Transport guidance.

But a report to the executive board warned the reimbursement expenditure was inevitable but costly. It says: “This expenditure is unavoidable and forms a very significant part of Metro’s overall budget.

“The recovery from district councils of grant (currently paid direct to West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority) from 2011/12 is a major concern as a failure to ‘passport’ this funding would lead to significant cuts in front-line services.”

Executive members will also hear how Metro is performing in its efforts to reduce staffing costs in the meeting at 11am at Wellington House, Wellington Street, Leeds.